Mulling apparatus



Feb. s, 1949.r W MPE-R 2,461,176

MULLING APPARATUS .Filed June 30, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 8, 1949. w. F.`P1PER MULLIfNG APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 50J 1945 Patented Feb. 8, 1949 r l oFF-lcs MULLING APPARATUS lWalter F. Piper, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Pettibone Mulliken Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application June so, 1945, serial No. 602,564

The present invention relates generally to mulling apparatus. More particularly the invention relates to that type of apparatus which is designed and adapted to mull material, such, for example, as molding sand in order properly to condition it preparatory to use, and as its main components or parts comprises: (1) a bowlshaped receptacle which is adapted to receive and retain a batch of the material to be mulled; (2) a rotary horizontally extending crosshead which is disposed in, and extends across, the central portion of the receptacle, is supported from above and is connected for drive icy-anV electric motor through the medium of speed reducing gearing; (3) a rotary mulling wheel which is carried by the crosshead and is adapted in connection with drive of the latter to travel in a circular path around the receptacle and eiTect mulling of the material by squeezing it against the receptacle; and (4) a plow which is supported by the crosshead so that it overlies the receptacle bottom, and operates during drive of the icrosshead to plow the material in the receptacle and deflect it into the path of the rotary mulling wheel.

In a mulling apparatus of this type it has heretofore been proposed to utilize a standard or conventional plow as the medium for-plowing the material in the receptacle and deflecting it into tlhe path of the mulling wheel. With such a plow the apparatus has proved in practice to be highly ineicient and defective `because of the fact that the plow in connection with drive of the 5 Claims.` (Cl. 241-124) crosshead does not operate on, or effect plowing of, the portion of the material in the central part of the receptacle and hence the batch of material after a mulling operation is not homogeneously and properly mulled.

One object of the invention is to provide a mulling apparatus of the type underv consideration which is an improvement upon and eliminates the defects of previously designed apparatus of the same general character icy reason oi the fact that the plow is so designed and constructed that it operates on, and serves to plow outwards, the material in the central portion of the receptacle as well as the remainder of the material to the end that the entire batch of material is mulled in a thorough and eicient manner.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a mulling apparatus of the last mentioned character in which the plow is of spiral contour or configuration and has the inner end thereof in substantial alignment with the center or axis of the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide in connection with a mulling apparatus of the aforementioned type and character novel means whereby the plow is so connected to the rotary horizontally extending crosshead that it may be adjusted not only vertically but also in a tilted manner to the end that the lower edge may be brought as close as possible to the bottom of the receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mulling apparatus of the type under consideration in which the crosshead is of new and improved design anld the rotary mulling wheel is connected to the crosshead in a novel and eillcient manner. Y

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mulling apparatus which is generally of new and improved construction, effectively'and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose, is so. de-' signed and constructed that it may be produced at a comparatively low and reasonable cost, and is Van improvement upon,vand has certain inherent advantages over, the mulling apparatus forming'the subject matter of application for letters patent filed April 24, 1944 andfserially Patent No. 2,450,299, Sept.

40 Figure 1 is a vertical section of a mulling apparatus embodying theinvention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and illustrating in detail the construction, arrangement and design of the plow for plowing and delecting the material to be mulled in' connection with a mulling operation; and

Figure 3 is a head.

The apparatus which is shown in thedrawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It serves as a medium for mulling material such as molding sand in a foundry in onder properly to'condition it preparatory to use,

perspective of the plow and cross- V and as its principalor primary components comprises a, receptacle 5, a rotary horizontally extending crosshead 6, a pair of mul'ling wheels 1, and a plow 8.

The receptacle 5 is adapted to be charged with a batch of material to be mulled and consists oi a lower section 9 and an upper section It. The lower section` comprises a circular bottom.. wall.. II and ani upstandin'g' cylindricalf side wall P2' and forms a part of a wheelbarrow I3 whereby it may be Wheeled or transported from place to place. The bottom wall lI is formed of plate metal and defines or constitutes the bottoni1 of the receptacle 5. The cylindrical. side wall. I2 is formed integrally with, and!- proiectsiupwards. from, the marginal portion of the bottom' wall II and has its upper end reenforced by an externally disposed angle bar type' ring F4". The' upper section I0 of the receptacle E is in theform' of a cylindrical side wall I and this is the same in diameter as the sidewall l-2 and is adapted torest on-,. andformacontinuation ofy the latter.

in connection with. usel ot ther apparatus... W-hen theside wall I5 isinvitsioperative-position wherein it rests on'l the side Wall I2. of the lower section 9, as shown in. Figure 1*,` iin-forms with. said side L extend. across the upper. end.' of'4 the side wall- I5 constituting the upper section of the receptacle 5 and form with a bail I9 a medium or instru-Y mental-ityf whereby the' uppersoction: la ofthe receptacle. may he raised andllowereduvithrespect' to the lower sectionI 9,. The ends of the. angle bars' I# rest upon and are weldedf or otherwise` flxedlyi secured tor the reenforcing'4 ring I`I= atthe upper endofl the cylindrical sidewall I5; The bail I9' is' adapted to` loefy attached to the hooky of: an over-headE crane' (not shown) and has' the lower ends of. its legs positioned: in straddled ree lation with, an`df xedly connected to, the cen-Y trail portionsof the'angl'ebars Ii8 In connection. with use of the apparatus it is contemplatedthat thek lower sections 9fofthe receptacle willbe.- lled with` a batch'- of the material to bei mulied and thenthe wheelbarrowl i31 of whichthelower sectionofi theY receptacle formsl a part, willbe` wheeled under the upper section I0 of the: re'- -ceptacla After the wheelbar'row is" wheeled under the upper section Hl it is released.- bythe operator so that the legs thereof rest on.y the floor. Thereafter the. upper section I0 is. lowered Yhy proper manipulation of thev overheadv crane until the reenforcing. ring-I6` is in. registry wit-h, and restson,v the reenforcingringy It;4 After a-.rnullingA` operation the upper section: of the receptacle is raised by the overhead crane and the wheel`r barrow I3V is then wheeled tothe' location. where the mulled materialv is tobe used..- Depending gude ngersor other suitable means (not shown.) on theA lower endof `the side wail If serve to.A hold. the upper section Ill of the receptacle against lateral displacement with respect. to thelower sectiorr 9' when the two sections are in their operative position wherein the upper section rests on', and is. supported. by,. the lower section and its sidewall I5 forms with.l the-side wall I-2 of the lower sectionthe" side wallv of the' receptacle/as a whole.. y

The orosshead 6- is disposed within, and. extends radially with` respect. to,- the cylindrical side wall I5 constituting the upper section I9 j housing interior..

. zontally extending web 23 and a pair of laterally spaced depending side flanges 24. As shown in the: drawings, the side flanges are formed integrally with, and. project downwards from, the side margins of the. horizontally extending web v., 23. The block-likefinner member 2! is arranged so that the axis of its bore is aligned with the Vertical" axisofthe' cylindrical side wall i5 constituting the upper section l0 of the receptacle, and the outer end of 4the elongated outer member E 2! terminates inwards ofthe inner. periphery of saidsde wall I5. The crosshead E' is xedly connectedto the lower end of, and isv driven by., a vertically extending driveshaft 25 which,.in turn, is driven. by a unidirectional. electric motor` 26 through. the. medium. of speed. reducing gearing 21 ina housing 28. The lower end of the drive shaft isprovided with anf externally threaded stem. 29` andthis extends through and isin interlocked relation. with the vertically extending screw threaded. bore 2'2 in the blocklike inner member 'Z0-of the crosshead. The centralpor-tion ot the drivev shaft. 25- is journalled in a bearing 35i on. the bottom. of the housing. 28 and, the

upper end^ of the4 drive shaft projects into the- Said housing 28 is mounted. on., and. xedly secured. to, the central. portions ofV the. angle'barfs I8 which, as previouslyr pointedout,Y extendacrossthe upper end of the side Wall I5.. The electric motor 2% is mountedon top of the housing'. ifandis arranged so that the armature shaft extends vertically. The lower end of the armature shaft extends into the upper portion of thef interior of the housing. 2S and is operatively or drivably connected to. the drive shaft25bly way ci the-speed reducing gearing 25?. When the electricl motor' 26 is in operation it operatesto'drive or rotate the crosshead 6 and the latter, in turn; causes the mulling wheels i Vand the plow 8 to travelina circularV course `of; the receptacle and effect mulling of the rn rial by squeezing it against said bottom fsite sides` ofthe crosshead and are adapt aroundthe-.bottom wall II of the lower section S or they receptacle. and thus effect mulling of' the hatchfof thenaterial in thereceptacle.

The two-mulling wheels 7V are locatedl at oppo- Yconnection with a;l mulling operation, i. the receptacle 5 is charged with. a hatch ci in. riaLtd tra-Velin a circular course over. the do wardlydished bottom Wall; II of the'lower ser" on They-comprise disc-like-bodies 3l and rubber t es 32. around.' the bodies and are rotatably mounted onthe ends of anv axle 33 which underlies the' :drive shaft 25` and extends at right angles to the crosshead E; The central portion' of :c 32* is welded: t'o' onev end: of a substantially hori zontalarmf 3dr. The latter, as best shown in Figure 1, is spaced beneath and in parallel reietion with the. crosshead` E. The other end of the arm 34 iitsbetween the central portions of the da pending` side anges 24- ot the outer member ofthe crosshead.. and has welded to its under side a tubular pivot` element 35.- A. pivot bolt 35 extends through aligned holes in the lower central portions of vthe depending side flanges 24 and also through the tubular pivot element 35 and j forms with said element a pivotal connection whereby the arm 34 and the axle 33 together with the two mulling wheels are permitted to swing vertically to a limited extent. A substantially verm tically extending bolt 3l extends through a hole the wheels 1. This bolt is arranged so that the head thereof is at the bottom and has a pair of nuts 4l! on the upper end of its shank. By adjusting the nuts on the shank of the bolt -35 the amount of downward swinging movement of the wheels With respect to the crosshead may be varied. The uppermost nut serves as a lock nut. In order to urge the mulling wheels downwards a spiral compression spring 4| is provided. This spring surrounds the shank of the bolt 38 and is arranged so that the lower end thereof abuts against the central portion of the arm 34 and its upper end abuts against the portion of the web 23 that deiines the hole 39. When the upper section In of the receptacle is raised with respect to the lower section the arm 34 swings relatively to the crosshead until it rests on the head oi the bolt 38. At such time the arm is in ixed rela tion with the crosshead and as a result in connection with additional upward movement of the upper section of the receptacle the mulling wheels move upwards. When the upper section of the receptacle is lowered into its operative position with respect to the lower section the mulling wheels, after being brought into engagement with the circular bottom wall li, cause the arm 34 to swing upwards to a limited extent with respect to the crosshead. When the two sections of the receptacle are in position for a mulling operation the spiral compression springs 4l exerts downward pressure on the mulling wheels l with the" result that the wheels in connection with travel over the bottom wall i l effect the desired squeezing and resultant mulling of the material. By reason of the fact that the compression spring 4| is disposed between the depending side anges 24 of the outer member of the crosshead it is effectively housed against contact with the material in connection with a mulling operation.

The plow 8 is connected to, and driven conjointly with, the crosshead 8 and serves during a mulling operation to plow all of the material in the receptacle 5 and also to direct the material into the path of the two mulling wheels 1. It is spiral so far as contour or configuration is concerned, directly overlies the bottom wall il of the lower section 9 of the receptacle when the upper and lower receptacle sections are in their operative position, and consists of an inner part 42 and an outer part 43. An L-shaped bar 44 serves to connect the plow to the crosshead. Such bar is preferably formed of comparatively heavy metal stock, is square in cross section and consists of a vertically extending piece 45 and a horizontally extending piece 46. The later piece is formed integrally lwith the lower end of, and extends at right angles to, the vertically extending piece 45.A

The inner part 42 of the plow 8 is approximately the same in height as the cylindrical side wall l2 of the lower section of the receptacle 5. It is formed of heavy plate metal and is so positioned that the leading edge thereof is in true alignment with the longitudinal center of the receptacle. As indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, the crosshead of the apparatus is driven in a clockwise direction when viewed from above. From its leading edge the inner part 42 of the plow extendsoutwards and is curved in a counterclockwise fashion. `The outer part 43 of the plow is approximately half asY high as the inner part and has its innerl end welded or otherwise xedly secured to the outer lower corner of the inner part 42. The outer end of the outer part terminates directly inwards of the side wall ll of the lower section S of the receptacle. The outer plow part, lilre the inner' part, is formed of heavy plate metal.

`plow and towards the cylindrical side wall li of the lower'receptacle section. After passing the inner part of the plow someoi the material of the batch to be mulled is flung outwards against the side wall l I and the balance or remainder' passes over the outer .part of the plow. By reason of the fact that it is impossible ior any of the material to collect in the center of the receptacle the entire batch of material is subject to eiective plowing on the part of the plow and is ultimately guided into the path of the mulling wheels to the end that the batch as a whole is homogeneously mulled. The plow is arrange-d so that the outer part .43 thereof is disposed substantially midway between the two mulling wheels l. The horizontally extending piece 46 of the bar 44 extends at right angles to the crosshead 6 and has the outer end thereof welded to the trailing marginal por-Y tion of the inner part 42 of the plow at a point directly above the inner end of the outer plow part 43. An elongated horizontally exten-ding bracket plate 41 extends between and is welded to the upper inner corner of the inner plow part 42 and the lower end of the vertically extending piece 45 of the bar. The upper end of said vertically ex-V tending piece 45 is disposed outwards of, and in substantially parallel relation with, a vertically extending bar 48, the upper end of which nts' against, and is welded to, the face of the blocklike crosshead inner member 2t that is remote from the outer crosshead member 2i. The upper end of the bar 4B is provided with an outwardly extending U-shaped bracket its and the lower end of said bar is provided with an outwardly extending U-shaped bracket 5s. Preferably the inner ends of the side legs of the two brackets are welded to the side faces of the vertically extending bar 48. The upper end of the vertically extending piece 45 of the plow carrying bar 44 extends through the two brackets 49 and 50, as shown in Figure 1, and is held in place by a pair of set screws 5I and 52. The set screw 5! extends horizontally through the crosswall oi the bracket 4S and is provided with a lock nut 5t for holding it in place. The other set screw, i. e., set screw 52, extends horizontally through crosswall of the bracket 5S and has associated therewith a lock nut 54 for holding it in the diiferent positions into which it is adjusted. A fulcrum member 55 is interposed between the central portion of the bar 48 and the adjacent por The plow. so far as curvature is concerned, progressively. and substantially uniformly increases in radiusfrom the inner or leadings edge of the inner part 42 to the outer end edge of the outer part 43. The.

tion of the vertically extending piece es or :the bar `Ml. This member is welded to the bar its and has'the vertically extending piece 45 of the bar et clamped thereagainstby the set screws El and 52. When the set screws are loosened .the plow -8 may be vertically adjusted in order to bring the lower or bottom edge thereof into position with respect to the bottoni wall ii oi the lower section of the receptacle. Tigntening of the set screws serves to hold' the piow in relation with the crosshead By loosening one of the set screws and tightening the other set screw the plow may be tilted bod-ily in vertical plane. In connection with tilting Vof the 1. le vertically extending piece of the bar ius crums on the fulcrum member that is iixedly secured to the central portion of the 'par two set screws El and 5E together with the fulcrum member 5% constitute means whereby the plow may be vertically adjusted and also taxed back and forth relatively to the crosshead i dinarily a tilting type adjustment of the plow is made only to compensate for any wear that should take place on the bottom edge of the plow. The position and arrangement of the bar such that the leading or inner edge oi the i nel part d2 of the plow is at all times substantially in true alignment with the vertical center or axis of the receptacle 5. Y i

In addition to the parts heretofore mentioned the apparatus comprises a scraper :for scraping the lower portion of the receptacle side wall. This scraper extends downwards and rearwards from the outer end of the outer part oi the crosshead f5 and has welded to its upper end an inwardly extending, horizontally disposed attaching arm 5l. The latter overiies and entends longitudinally of the outer nel of the web 23 of the crosshead member i and is secured in place by means of a pair of vertically extending bolts 53. Such bolts extend through holes 5d in the attaching arm .'i and slots Sii in the web 23. The slots permit the scraper to be adjusted inwards or outwards when the nuts on the bolts ES are loosened.

When it is desired to use the apparatus to muil a batch of material the wheelbarrow i3, after release of the lower section 9 of the receptacle from the upper section it, is wheeled to the location'where the material to be mulled is stored. It is then charge with the material and wheeled back to a position wherein the lower receptacle section s is directly under the upper section le. After properly positioning oi the wheelbarrow the self contained mulling unit consisting of the upper receptacle section lil, the unidirectional electric motor 2, the speed reducing gearing 2l, the crosshcad E, the wheels l, the plow S and the scraper 55, is lowered until the ring H5 on the lower end of the side wall is rests on the ring I4 on the upper end of the side wall l2. Thereafter the electric motor 25 is started. As soon as the motor is started the crosshead is set in motion and revolves within the receptacle 5. In connection with turning or swinging of the crossheacl the mulling wheels 'l squeeze the material against the bottom wall l I and the plow 3 plows the material outwards and deflects it into the path of the mulling wheels. After the material is mulled to the desired extent the aforementioned self contained unit is raised and the wheelbarrow is then wheeled to the location where the mulled material is to be used. In the event the bottom edge of the plow wears the plow is adjusted downwards by loosening the set screws 5I and 52 so as to release si the bar 44 from the U -shaped brackets 49 and :50. After vdownward adjustment of the plow to the ,proper extent fully t-o compensate for wear the set screws are tightened. Should the wear of the bottom edgerof the plow be such as to necessitate tilting or angular adjustment ofthe plow the plow is angularly adjusted by loosening one of the set screws and tightening the other as heretofore pointed out.

The herein described muil-ing apparatus effectively and efficiently iullls its intended purpose and is characterized by the fact that the-plow 3 is so constructed and shaped that it operates on the entire batch of material in the receptacle.

Because o the design and construction oi the crosshead the apparatus may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

Whereas the apparatus has been described yas comprising a composite or sectional receptacle, the lower section of which is detachable from the upper section, it is to be understood that the invention involves the use of a rigid or uni-tary receptacle. It is also to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the Idetails set forth sincel these may be modifi-ed within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and Scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat-- -ent is: Y

i. In a mulling apparatus comp Ising a bow-1- like receptacle embodying a bottom wall and a continuous upstanding side wall and adapted to retain the material to be mulled, a rotary cross jhead supported from above, positioned over and in spaced relation with the receptatcle bottoni wall, and provided with means for driving it in one direction, and a rotary mulling wheel carried 'og the crosshead and adapted during driv`J of the Tlatter to travel in a circular course within the Y'tacle to the side Wall, and horizontally and spirally curved in a direction opposite to the direction of drive of the crosshead and in such manner that its radius progressively and substantially uniformly increases from its inner end to its outer end, in order that any of the material that works its way to the center of the receptacle in connection with a mulling operation is positively moved outwards towards the receptacle side wall.

2. In a mulling apparatus comprising a bowl- ;:like receptacleembodying a bottom wall and a continuous upstanding side wall and adapted to retain the material to be mulled, a rotary power driven crosshead positioned over and in spaced relation with the receptacle bottom wall, and a -rotary nuilling wheel carried by the crosshead and adapted during drive of the latter to travel in a circular course within the receptacle interior and eiect mulling of the material, by squeezing it against said receptacle, a horizontally elongated plow positioned beneath the crosshead and directly over the receptacle bottoni, extending outwards from the central part ci the receptacle to the side wall, having means between it and the crosshead whereby it is connected to rotate conjointly with the crosshead While at the same time it is capable of being adjusted vertically and also tilted longitudinally, and adapted during drive of said crossheadto travel in a circular course over the receptacle bottom and deflect the material outwards into the path of the mulling wheel.

3. In a mulling apparatus, the combination with a bowl-like receptacle embodying a bottom wall and a continuous upstanding side wall and adapted to retain the material to be muiled, a rotary power driven crosshead positioned over and in spaced relation with the receptacle bottom wall, a rotary mulling element carried by the crosshead and adapted during drive of the latter to travel in a circular course in the receptacle interior and eiect mulling of the material by squeezing it against said receptacle, of a hori- Zontally elongated plow positioned directly over the receptacle bottom Wall, extending outwards from the central portion oi the receptacle to the side wall, and adapted in connetcion with drive of the crosshead to travel in a circular course and deflect the material into the path of the mulling wheel, and a substantially vertically extending attaching member having the lower end thereof connected xedly to the inner end of the plow and having means between its upper end and the crosshead whereby it is so connected to the crosshead that it together with the plow is capable of being adjusted vertically and also tilted in a vertical plane extending radially with respect to the receptacle.

4. In a mulling apparatus, the combination with a bowl-like receptacle embodying a bottoni wall and a continuous upstanding side wall and adapted to retain the material to be mulled, oi a rotary horizontally elongated power driven crosshead positioned over and in spaced relation with the receptacle bottom wall and comprising a horizontal web and a pair of laterally spaced side flanges connected to, and depending from, the side margins of the web, a horizontally extending pivot bolt connected to, and extending between, said side anges, an arm disposed beneath and in substantially parallel relationwith, the crosshead and having one end thereof connected to the pivot bolt so that it is capable of swinging vertically, a vertically extending bolt extending 10 between and through the arm and the web and serving to limit downward swinging of the arm, an axle extending transversely of the arm and having its central portion iixedly connected to the distal end of said arm, and mulling wheels mounted rotatably on the ends of the axle.

5. 'in a mulling Vapparatus, the combination with a bowl-like receptacle embodying a bottoni wall and a continuous upstanding side wall and adapted to retain the material to be mulled, of a rotary horizontally; elongated power driven crosshead positioned over and in spaced relation with the receptacle bottoni Wall and comprising a horizontal web and a pair of laterally spaced side ilanges connected to, and depending from, the side margins of the web, a horizontally extending pvot bolt connected to, and extending between, said side iianges, an arm disposed beneath and in substantially parallel relation with, the` crosshead and having one end tiereof connected to the pivot bolt so that it is capable oi swinging vertically, a vertically extending bolt extending between and through the arm and the web and'serving to limit downward swinging of the arm, a spiral compression spring extending around the last mentioned bolt and between said arm` and Web and arranged to urge the arm downwards, an axle extending transversely of the arm and having its central portion iixedly connected to the distal end of said arm, and niulling wheels mounted rotatably on the ends of the axle.

f WALTER F. PIPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

